WARBURTON HWY

WARBURTON HWY

WARBURTON HWY

HISTORY..Constructed by pick & shovel in an astonishing 18 months, the Warburton Railway was completed in 1901 to carry fruit & vegetables from the Wandin farmlands in the foothills of the Dandenong’s to Melbourne. Trains also took timber from the forests of Warburton & Powelltown. It used to be claimed that Yarra Junction was second only to Seattle, USA, in the volume of timber passing along it’s tracks.

The 1960’s & 1970’s, due to the increased use of automobiles & low passenger numbers, saw the end of the railway & it was closed down & dismantled. For some time the land where the railway once stood was left vacant. During the 1980’s a group of residents identified this land would make the perfect location for a Rail Trail.

After spending some time lobbying with Local & State governments a Committee of Management was formed & construction began in 1996. With great excitement the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail was officially opened in 1998 as a shared use recreational trail.

Over the years the ‘Warby Trail’ as it is affectionately known, has further developed with the Yarra Ranges Council now the Committee of Management.

For more information and historic photo's, visit the Upper Yarra Museum located on the trail at Yarra Junction.

LOCATION 40kms east of Melbourne

START Lilydale Recreation Reserve

FINISH Station Road Warburton

DISTANCE 40kms one way, 80kms return

GRADIENT Gentle slope up to & down from Mt Evelyn then mostly flat

SURFACE Mostly hard packed gravel with bridge & road crossings. The last 3kms to Warburton is sealed.

SUITABILITY All fitness levels & families. Wheel chair accessible but please be conscious of the surface, gradients & road crossings.

FOOD & DRINK There are cafés situated on the trail at Mt Evelyn, Seville & Warburton. Alternatively find an eatery in one of the townships.

GETTING THEREMetro Trains: www.metrotrains.com.au

Drive & park at one of the many access points along the trail. Ample parking is available at Lilydale Station, Woori Yallock, Yarra Junction & Warburton.

BIKE HIREYarra Valley Cycles (03) 9735 1483 108 Main St Lilydale, opposite the train station.

COG Bicycle Café (03) 5966 2213 On the trail at 42 Station St Warburton

EMERGENCY INFO

Police, Fire & Ambulance Dial 000 or 112 from mobiles, quote the number of the nearest emergency marker (as pictured).

Yarra Ranges Council 1300 368 333 (24hr number) report any maintenance issues including trees, trail damage or broken signage.

CAUTION!The Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail is 40kms in total length one way!

• Cycling this distance takes 4 hours ONE WAY for a person of good fitness

• Only attempt distances within your capability

• Always carry water & avoid hot periods of the day

• During the fire season always visit the CFA website for current fire danger rating & bushfire warnings

• Wear appropriate footwear & clothing for your chosen activity & the weather

• Don’t forget your helmet if riding

CODE OF CONDUCT:For your safety & enjoyment whilst using the trail please observe the following:

• Open sunrise to sunset

• Dogs on leads at all times

• Leave gates as found

• Take your rubbish home

• No fires

• No camping

• No motorbikes or unauthorized vehicles

• Keep to the track

• Do not disturb stock

• No firewood collection

• Respect other trail users, the environment & neighbours

THE TERRAIN

'One of the great train journeys of the world... minus the train!'Keith Dunstan OAM (Author & founder Bicycle

Institute of Victoria)

The Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail is one of Australia’s iconic Rail Trails which meanders through the Yarra Valley between the Dandenong Ranges & the Great Dividing Range.

Enjoy the spectacular views of the Yarra Ranges National Park. Pass through beautiful bushland, wineries & farmlands.

Located only one hour from Melbourne by car or train, the ‘Warby Trail’ is a great place to visit on a day trip or why not stay overnight in a bed & breakfast. Stop in any of the townships along the way to experience the local produce & discover what the Yarra Valley is all about.

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LILYDALE TO WARBURTON RAIL TRAIL

102m

230m

178m

125m

101m

95m

114m

121m

131m

163m

170m

6.9km 4.0km3.4km 2.1km 1.6km5.4km 6.4km3.3km 3.7km 3.3km

MAROONDAH

HWY

CLEGG ROAD

Back cover image - Yarra Valley Tourism

Public Archive of First Aid Post Reserve - Railway First Aid Competitions

PLilydale Station Car Park

Yarra Valley Cycles (Bike hire & repair)

Maroondah Highway Overpass

Tunnel Under Hereford Road First Aid Post Reserve

Mt Evelyn Station Site

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Wandin Station SiteWandin Shops 400m

Seville Shops 1.5km Water Play

Carriage Cafe

Seville Station Site

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Woori Yallock Station Site

Woori Yallock Shops 500m

Killara Station Site

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Woori Yallock Station Site

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Launching Place Station Site

Home Hotel

Yarra Junction Station Site

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Wesburn Station Site

Millgrove Station Site

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Warburton Station Site

LILYDALE TO MOUNT EVELYN 6.9KMThe trail begins on Main St Lilydale near Olinda creek through Lilydale Recreation Reserve. Follow the trail past the original turn table and around Mt Lilydale Mercy College. Cross the Maroondah Hwy overpass & up the gentle gradient. After the tunnel at Hereford Road take time to explore the historic First Aid Post Reserve before continuing on your journey to Mount Evelyn.

Connect with the Mount Evelyn Aqueduct Trail at Monbulk Road & Joy Ave. The Aqueduct was decommissioned in 1972. Follow the trail for approximately 4kms to end at Hunter Road in Silvan.

MOUNT EVELYN TO WANDIN 5.4KMFrom Mount Evelyn the trail heads downhill to Wandin where thousands of people once stood to wave to the Queen on her journey in the Royal carriage to Warburton back in 1956. Cross the Warburton Hwy with care & enter the Wandin Station Site. The Wandin township is a short diversion up the highway where picnic areas & toilets are available in the playground.

WANDIN TO SEVILLE 3.4KMThis section travels through large agricultural areas. Stop to admire the old railway carriage which has been beautifully restored as the Carriage Café. Horse yards are available.

An interesting side trip onto the Wandin Yallock trail will have you divert into Seville township. Visit the Seville Water Play Park which offers toilets, car parking, bbq & picnic facilities. Back on the main trail you’ll find Seville Station & a small carpark.

SEVILLE TO KILLARA 3.3KMCruise through beautiful bushland down onto open pastures to Killara Station. The station provides beautiful rural views & picnic tables making it a popular rest stop.

KILLARA TO WOORI YALLOCK 4KMThe trail continues a slow descent to the Yarra Valley floodplain. Enjoy vistas of Mounts Riddell & Donna Buang. Woori Yallock station is a popular starting point for those not wanting to complete the whole trail. This spot provides picnic & under cover rest areas, toilets are location approx. 30mt across the road in the playground. There is ample parking for horse-floats, & the Woori Yallock township is located 500m up the hill.

WOORI YALLOCK TO LAUNCHING PLACE 6.4KMCross the Koo Wee Rup-Healesville Road & swing past rural areas along the banks of the Yarra River in an area known as Don Valley. Once over Hoddles Creek, the trail hugs the valley wall, passing through a cutting to enter Launching Place.

Connect to the Don Road Trail on Don Road for a pleasant trip to the Don Valley.

LAUNCHING PLACE TO YARRA JUNCTION 2.1KMThe trail hugs the southern side of the valley, crosses Warburton Hwy near Corduroy Road & heads into Yarra Junction. The trail leads past the Upper Yarra Museum, which is housed in the original Lilydale Station Building. The township offers a large recreation precinct with parking & toilets.

YARRA JUNCTION TO MILLGROVE 5.2KMAfter crossing several bridges the trail travels onto the floodplain offering magnificent views of the Yarra Ranges National Park. Further along it reaches Millgrove Station which sits close to parking, picnic facilities & toilets.

MILLGROVE TO WARBURTON 3.3KMThe last leg of the journey takes you through densely vegetated native forests along side the Yarra River. The stretch of the trail is sealed and follows a gentle gradient up into the riverside township of Warburton. Your journey concludes at the station site located behind the Warburton Visitor Information Centre & near the COG Café. Here you can access many other trails including the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail.

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kms from

Lilydale

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COG Bicycle Cafe (Bike hire & repairs)

Warburton Visitor Information Centre - located at the Water Wheel 3400 Warburton HwyP

MAP LEGENDTrail RouteConnecting TrailState Road Network NumberVillage Shopping PrecinctVisitor Information CentreToilets

ParkingPicnic AreaCafe (Nearby)Water Refill StationDangerous Road CrossingPedestrian Traffic Lights

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NORTH

kms approx0 1

NORTH

kms approx0 1

NORTH

kms approx0 1

Wandin Yallock

Trail

Don Road Trail

Backstairs Trail

Aqueduct Trail

Wandin Station Site

Wandin Shops 400m